America today lacks greatness

By Patricia Pearson, North Las Vegas

Monday, April 28, 2014 | 2:02 a.m.

America has missed an opportunity to lead by telling itself it is the best in every competitive field without doing the work.

Part of what makes greatness is the drive, a hunger within a person to achieve. It drives them to overcome the mediocre and stand among the select few icons in America.

I have read books written by American writers, watched American athletes and listened to American educators, but I have not heard that resounding voice coming from our nation that lifts spirits and produces greatness.

When I was growing up, we did things because they were expected, because they were the right thing to do, because that is what we are supposed to do. We knew if we wanted something, we would have to work for it.

Every day, I look down at the quilt my grandmother made from scraps of material she collected. She hand stitched every little square into place. She did not use a sewing machine for any of it.

She had arthritis, but she was determined to make something great for my mom, and she did. She didn’t do it for pay.

This blanket is a treasure. Some people may see it as a waste of time because they can buy a blanket, but it wouldn’t be the quality of my grandmother’s quilt.

She was from the generation of hard workers. Is it a lost talent?